Extensible standard



flan M, mm F. s. LEWIS EXTENSIBLE STANDARD Filed Apri 4' 46 IN VENTOR BY@2 E l f'W/S.

A TTOR S Patented Jan. 24, 1950 EXTENSIBLE STANDARD Fred S. Lewis, SouthBend, Ind., assignor to Electro-Voice, Incorporated, South Bend, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Application April 4, 1946, Serial No. 659,553

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in extensible standards, such asmicrophone stands, music stands, lamp standards, tripod legs, and thelike.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a standard which issimple in construction, which locks positively in any adjustment, whichis adjustable by one hand, which is controlled by a push button, whichis noiseless, which accommodates swiveling of the extensible portionthereof, and which may be of any desired decorative appearance.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which has apair of telescoping tubes completely confining therein the lockingmechanism therefor which is independent of the fit of the tubes topermit the use of tubes of different sizes and shapes Without requiringsnu sliding fits therebetween. A further object is to provide a standardof this character which may be extended to any position by a manual pullthereon and locks automatically in the desired extended position, andwhich requires only the operation of a push button to permit retractionthereof to any desired position at which it locks automatically when thebutton is released.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

" In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of thedevice.

' Fig. 3 is a detail face view of the locking member.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view shOWiIlg thelocking member in released position.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment ofthe inventiomthe numeral I designates the base of the standard whichmounts an outer telescopin tube I2. An inner extension tube I4 fitstelescopically within tube I2 and mounts a fitting I6 upon its upperend. A microphone I8 or other article to be supported is mounted uponthe fitting I6.

The base It may be of any character desired, i. e., either a solid baseas shown or an extensible and collapsible base of suitable construction.The base has a central vertical screw-threaded bore which receives areduced screw-threaded stud 20 projecting from the lower end of acylindrical member 22 whose lower marginal shoulder preferably bearsagainst the upper surface of the base to be solidly anchored thereto.The lower end of the outer tube l2 fits snugly around the member 22 andis fixedly secured thereto, as by a pin or rivet 24 extendingdiametrically through said tube and member. A ring 26 encircles thelower end of tube I2 and bears against the top of base ID. This ringserves as a trim member and also assists in holding the parts in desiredrelation. The member 22 has an axial bore-in its upper end and anelongated rigid rod 28 fits snugly in said bore and is anchored by thepin 24 which passes therethrough.

The upper tube I 4 fits freely and slidably within the outer tube I2,and preferably has a slight clearance therein, as shown. A retainin ring30 is secured to and projects from the upper end of tube I2 and confinesa fiber ring or washer 32 which encircles and engages the upper tube I4.A cup-shaped member having a thick base 34 and a cylindrical flange 36is screw-threaded or otherwise secured in the lower end of tube I4. Aportion of base 34 projects below the tube I4 and has a circumferentialgroove in which a fiber ring or washer 38 seats and from which said ringprojects for engagement with tube l2. Base 34 has an axial borereceiving a bearing 40 which fits snugly and slidably around the rod 28.The lower end of tube M has a longitudinal slot 42 formed therein.

A locking member 44, of the construction best shown' in Fig. 3, fitswithin the tube I4. This member comprises a rigid circular plate'or discwhose outer diameter is slightly less than the inner diameter of thetube I4. An ear 45 'projects radially outwardly from member 44 andprojects through the slot 42 in said tube. The slot 42 is of a length toproject slightly above the upper edge of fiange 36, whereby said earrests upon said fiange and is free to shift between horizontal andtilted positions. Member 44 has a central aperture 48 of a diameterslightly greater than rod 28. This diameter is calculated to accommodatefree sliding of the member 44 upon the rod 28 when positionedhorizontally, as shown in Fig. 4, and to bear firmly against the rod atdiametrically opposed points when the member 44 is tilted as shown inFig. 2. In diametrically opposed relation to the ear 46, a recess 50 isformed in member 44 for purposes to be described.

The fitting I5 mounted upon the upper end of the upper tube I4 has amarginal cylindrical depending flange 52 which fits around and issecured to the end of tube I4. A reduced diameter neck portion 54projects upwardly from the base 56 of the fitting and is locatedeccentrically of said base. The lower portion of neck 54 inclinesupwardly and inwardly and the upper portion 58 thereof is preferablyvertical and concentric with base 56. The portion 58 is screw-threadedat its upper end to cooperate with a threaded sleeve or nut 6|] whichserves to secure in place the microphone or other article I8 which thestandard is intended to support. The base of the fitting has a verticalbore 62 therethrough adjacent 3 its margin and diametrically oppositefrom the neck 54.

An elongated vertical rod fi l fits. slidably in the bore 62 andnormally-projects a short distance above the base 56 as illustrated. Therod is somewhat shorter than tube l2 and terminates slightly above themember 44. The lower end of .rod- 64.

has a central bore in which the upper end of a pin 66 is anchored. Pin66 depends from rod 64.

and passes through the slot 5ll in-member 44 and through a verticalaperture in member 34. A

head 68 is formed on the lower en ds, of. pin 66 and;

'ld is formedin the outer tube l2 just above the level of the membere22,and an air vent I6 is formed in the uppertube ill just below the flangeth fit ing. I a. henqrmalpos ion f h p rt f; h vi is illustrated. inFig. 2. Note. that the spring 10 holdsthemember 44, in, upwardly tiltedposition whereby diametrically opposed edge portions of the cylindricalwall defining the aperture 44 have afirm. frictional locking engagementwiththe rod 28..which serves .automatic ally,to. lock the tubesinrselectedpositiom Any downwardipressure .upon the tube 1 4 isresisted. by said locking engagement of the parts. Reverse orupwardmovement of tube I4 is not. so. resisted, however. Thus,-as tube14 *is raised,- any tendency. ofthe member to grip thefred 28 ientails-atilting of'said member oward horizontal: p s n. t e y u maticallydisengaging the lock. Thelock; 44 automatically ree ats as; soon as. upmovement: of tube [4 stops,;thus insuring locking "of the parts \Villhfoutrmanipulafiiqnthereof. For downward adjusts ment of, the standard,ityis only necessary .to dewpress. the rodefidiagainst. the action of:spring '10 to position theilock l l substantially horizontal as shown-inFig. 4... This is accomplishedby grasping the tube near its upper endand. depressing the rod with one finger, such as .thethumb. As long as-the-rod-Iill is depressed, the tube l4 may be moved-freely, but as soonas the rod 64 is released the 4 lock automatically anchors the tubeagainst further downward movement. Hence 'it will be apparentthat one Iof the primary advantages of the device is-that the user may adjust itby use of only one hand.

The devicehas many-other advantages. The absence of metal to metalcontact, except at the locking parts, results in substantially noiselessoperation. The absence of interlocking action betweenthetelescopingtubes accommodates freedomor ease of operation andadjustment. The centering and anchoring of the upper tube at the centralrod permits clearance between the tubes and eliminates need for testingof tube fits. Also, it permitstubesof fluted or other decorative con-,

tours to be used. The only exposed part of the locking mechanism is theshort projecting end of the lock,releasing rod;,which, iseasy to operateand does not detract from theappearance of the device. The devicepermits rotation of the upper tube within the lower tube withoutreleasing or interfering with the lock. It will also be noted that theinner tube and the locking plate and releasing rod can beassembled as aunit and inserted in the outer tube. Release of sleeve 30 permits quickdisassembly of the device for repair or-replacement of parts.

It will be understood that while the construction described andillustrated is preferred, the invention may be modified and embodied inother forms utilizing the same combination andarrangement of parts asherein-claimed:

I claim:

1. An extensible standard comprising a base. a tube secured to saidbase, a rod secured to-said base and positioned within said tube, asecond tube fitting slidably within'said first tube, a tilt platecarried by said second tube-and havingan aperture fitting around saidrod, resilient means normally tilting said'plate to interlockingenslidable onv said inner member andsecured to the inner: endjofsaidctube to close the lower end. foi

aligned apertures eccentriethereof, the inner end,

member havinganaperture slidable on said inner elongated member, a rodslidable in said aligned apertures with. itsv upper end;.proiectingabove said upper end member, a plate tiltably carriediby.

said tube, and a spring for tilting said plateto.

' grip said inner elongatedlmember, said.rod.being longitudinallyslidable to tilt saidplate to :a position slidable on' said-' innerelongated member against theaction-of said: spring.

FRED S; LEWIS;

REFERENCES? CITED.

The. following, references. are ,of, recordin the.

